Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fibrosing lung disease, with an incidence of ~1/10,000 per year, and a poor prognosis with limited treatments [1]. The role of hypoxia in disease progression is unclear. Footnotes This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal . It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article. Conflict of interest: Dr. Porter has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Win has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Erlandsson has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Fraioli has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Rashidnasab has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Holman has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Ganeshan has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Screaton has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Maher has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Mr. Endozo has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Mr. Hoath has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Mr. Shortman has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Emond has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Prof. Thielemans has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Prof. Hutton has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Lukey has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Aigbirhio has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Mr. Khan has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Robriguez-Justo has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Prof. Groves has nothing to disclose.